Training device



S 1945 E. A. LINK 2,385,291

TRAINING DEVICE Filed July 5, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 EDWIN A. LINK INVENTOR.

BY avw ATTORNEYS.

p E. A. LINK 2,385,291

TRAINING DEVICE 4 Filed July 5, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 EDWIN A. LINK INVENTOR. BY,%M/x fwd (I I ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 18, 1945. E. A. LINK TRAINING DEVICE Filed July 5. 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 MQWWWWW m EDWIN A. LlNK INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 18, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE mamme DEVICE Edwin a Binghamton, N. Y. Application July 5, 1943, Serial No. 493,535

16 Claims.

My invention relates to training devices and more particularly to a training device for the instruction of aviators and is a. continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 250,958 filed January 14, 1939. This copending application discloses a navigation training apparatus having means for projecting upon a screen a moving image representing a portion of the earths surface, whereby valuable training in navigation may be received by the use of such apparatus. This patent is intended to secure protection to me of only the improvements made over my earlier application, and all of the claims of this patent are restricted to such improvements.

A primary object of my invention is to improve generally the means disclosed in my copending application for simulating in a grounded aviation trainer flight over a part of the earth's surface.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a terrain screen attached to the trainer for rotation therewith synchronized with a terrain projecting apparatus which responds to the movements of the trainer and terrain screen so as to make the path of the images upon the terrain screen move with respect to the trainer in simulation of the movement of the ground with respect to a plane in actual flight.

It is a further object of my invention to provide means whereby a terrain plate having a print of any strip of the earth's surface taken in any direction may be used in conjunction with the trainer in order to simulate flight in any direction of a real plane over the corresponding ground.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a terrain plate and screen and projecting system to be used in conjunction with a wind drift instrument of the type disclosed in the copending application Serial Number 406,056 filed August 8, 1941.

Other objects of my invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, reference now being made to the accompanying figures which show a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a general side view of the trainer showing the fuselage, terrain screen and terrain or the ter- Fi 5 is a schematic view of means for determining an assumed trainer heading.

Reference is now made to Fig. 1 which shows a base frame In resting upon three upstanding supports 12. A lower bearing housing H is fixedly attached to base frame I0 and formed integrally with this lower bearing housing is an annular groove l6. Upper bearing housing I8 is held by lower bearing housin It and is rotatable with respect thereto by virtue of a suitable bearing arrangement. Fixedly attached to upper bearing housing l8 and resting thereupon is platform 20 upon which is mounted a tower 22 having three main upstanding legs. The central. upper member 24 affixed to tower 22 has at its upper end a universal joint (not shown) and the trainer fuselage 26 rests upon the top of this universal joint. By means of a system of vacuum, valves, linkages and bellows 28 the trainer fuselage 26 may be made to assume a diving, climbing or banking position, in simulation of the corresponding movements of a plane in actual flight. The detailed means of accomplishin these movements of trainer fuselage 26 upon the universal joint are described in detail in U. S. Patents 1,825,462 and 2,099,857, and therefore, a detailed description in this application is not deemed necessary.

A frame 29 holds the terrain screen 3| which is preferably made of silk and the frame is affixed to one of the cross pieces of the tower 22 by means of clamps 33. The outer ends of the screen are supported by arms 35 which have one end attached to the sides of the frame 29 and their other ends attached to one of the legs of the tower 22. A portion 31 of the floor of the fuselage 26 is transparent in order that the image upon the screen may be viewed from inside fuselage 26. A plurality of weights 23 counterbalance the fuselage upon upper bearing housing l8.

Still referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that depending from platform 20 and rigidly afflxed thereto is a turning motor 30 which has an output shaft 32 upon which is rigidly aflixed a pulley wheel 34 having a groove 36 adapted to receive turning belt 38. It is also to be noticed that turning belt 38 is placed in the groove i6 integral with lower bearing housing I 4.

Whenever the student in the trainer presses the rudder pedals (not shown) the turning motor 30 is actuated by a system of vacuum, valves and linkages also described in the two abovementioned U. S. patents, and the output shaft 32 and wheel 34 are rotated, the direction of rotation depending upon whether the left or right rudder pedal is pressed. In the event the left rudder pedal is pressed the wheel 34 is rotated clockwise as seen in Fig. l, and because of the friction between turning belt 38 and wheel 34 on the one hand and the friction between turnin belt 38 and groove I6 on the other, the wheel 34 rolls along turning belt 38, carrying with it turning motor 38, platform 28, tower 22, screen 3| and fuselage 28; thereby causing the front of the fuselage 26 to turn to the left. In the event the right rudder pedal is pressed the direction of rotation of wheel 34 is counterclockwise and the turning motor 38, platform 28, tower 22, screen 3| and fuselage 26 are rotated in the opposite direction. It will be realized, of course, that this rotation is accomplished by virtue of the fact that base frame I8, its supports I2, lower bearing housin I4 and annular groove I8 are fixed while turning motor 38, platform 28 and the parts mounted thereupon are rotatable with respect to these fixed parts. Turning belt 38 is the means connecting the rotatable and fixed parts.

Reference is now made to Fig. 2 which shows the mechanism of this invention which is used to project the image of the ground upon the terrain screen 3I. As seen in Fig. 2, an azimuth rail 48 in the form of a large ring is provided, the rail being graduated from zero through 360 in a clockwise direction. A track 42 is formed integrally with the azimuth rail and riding upon this track by means of four vertical legs 44 having flanged rollers 46 mounted in their lower ends is the terrain base frame 48. The legs are rigidly held by frame 48 by means of lock nuts 58. Also rigidly held by terrain base frame 48 is a depending stop 52 which, when the frame is correctly positioned with respect to the azimuth rail 48, engages a pivoted arm 54. This arm is pivotally aflixed to azimuth rail 48 which has an inte ral stop (not shown) on each side of the arm 54. The limited movement of arm 54 resulting from this arrangement allows the positioning of terrain base frame 48 at any position through 360 but prevents a continuous rotation of the terrain frame 48 in order that certain electrical connections to be later described will not become disrupted. A pointer 56 is rigidly aflixed to the end 58 of the frame 48 and, therefore, indicates at all times the rotatable position of terrain base frame Also seen in Fig. 2 is a horizontal member 68 which is affixed to the upper longitudinal members 62 of the terrain base frame 48 by means of bolts 64. Casting 68 has a plurality of rectangular openings '66 in order to lighten the unit. Depending from member 68 and rigidly afiixed thereto by means of bolts 68 is a boxlike frame 18 which has a lower cross piece 12. As seen in Figs. 2 and 3 a shaft 14 is rigidly held by this cross piece and .rotatably mounted thereupon is a large spur gear 16. There are mounted adjacent gear 16 two receiver teletorques 18 each of which has aflixed upon its output shaft a pinion 88 which-meshes with gear 16 in order that they may rotate this gear. These teletorques are designated in the art as the track receiving teletorques. It will be seen that the wires contained in cables 82 connect with each of these teletorquesand that cables 82 merge into a larger cable I26 which enters underground conduit I38 and connects with a junction box I32 on One of the legs I2. From junction box I32 cable I34 carries the electrical connections to housings I4 and I8 where the electrical transfer is made by means of slip rings and brushes (not shown). Cable I31 connects with the brushes and slip ringsand goes to the track transmitting teletorque of the wind drift instrument 84. By the previously described electrical connections track transmitting teletorque 85 is connected to the track receiving teletorques 18. The nature of these teletorques is such that when the input shaft 81 of the track transmitting teletorque 85 is rotated through a given angle the output shafts and the pinions 88 of the track receiving teletorques are rotated through the same angle and in the same direction.

Fig. 4 shows a general view of the wind drift instrument the construction and operation of which is described in detail in the copending application of Gunne Lowkrantz and Karl A. Kail, Serial No. 406,056 for Wind drift instrument. This instrument contains the track transmitting teletorque designated generally in that figure by 85. This teletorque comprises the input shaft 81, and, as described in detail in the application Serial No. 406,056 this shaft is positioned by the wind drift unit in accordance with the assumed heading of the trainer, the assumed air speed of the trainer, the assumed direction of the wind and the assumed velocity of the wind, which, it will be understood, are the four factors which determ ne the track or path of travel of a plane over the ground in actual flight. Inasmuch as these same four factors are introduced into the wind drift instrument 84 and determine the position of the input shaft 81 of the track transmitting teletorque it will be understood that the position of the input shaft of this transmitting teletorque 85 is representative of the assumed track or path of travel over the ground of the trainer. As the position of the input shaft 81 of the track transmitting teletorque 85 is varied the output p'nions 88 of the track receiving teletorques 18 are rotated in a manner well understood in the art. The pinions 88 on the output shafts of the teletorques 18 are therefore dependent upon the assumed track of the trainer, and it will be seen that as the assumed track changes, resulting in a change in the position of pinions 88, gear 16 will be rotated.

It will be seen in Figs. 2 and 3 that gear 16 meshes with two reversing gears '86 each of which is rotatably mounted upon one of the shafts 88 which are held by extensions 98 integral with the bottom of frame 18. Each of these gears 88 meshes with one of the large spur gears 92 each of which is aflixed to the bottom of one of the vertical shafts 94. As seen in Fig. 3, affixed to the upper end of each of the shafts 94 by means of set screws 96 is a casting 91 which has two integral upstanding pins 99 (only one shown) in a clearance hole I8I of casting 98 and a lock nut I83 is provided to engage the upper threaded portion of pin 98. Integral with each of the castings 98 is a housing I88 and inside each of these housings is a gear train designated generally by I82. I

upon the output shafts of the track receiving teletorques 18 occurs. Spur gear 16 is therefore rotated and so are gears 88 and the large spur gears 92 upon the lower end of the vertical shafts 94. The vertical shafts 94 will be rotated as will castings III and pins 88 which in turn rotate the castings 98 and housings I00. The rubber tired driving discs I08 will therefore have their positions about their vertical axes changed. It should the trainer over the ground and that its rate of be noticed that the vertical axes of the rubber tired discs I08 are coincident with the vertical axes of vertical shafts 84. It may therefore be concluded that the position of the rubber tired driving discs I08 about their vertical axes is at all times dependent upon the assumed track or path of travel of the trainer over the ground as determined by the wind drift instrument 84.

It will be seen in Fig. 3 that the shaft I4 has suspended to its lower end a casting I5 which has two integral clamps 11, each of which holds one of the teletorques I8. Adjusting arm I8 is held in casting I5 by means of set screw 8I and, as seen in Fi 2, the other end of this arm may be fixed relative to azimuth rail 40 by means of a screw 83 which fits in any one of the plurality of holes 89. When the power of the teletorques I8 is on, a movement of arm I9 in the horizontal plane moves the teletorques I8, and pinions 80, being held from rotating by the transmitter teletorque 85, rotate gear I8, which, through the previously described means, rotates driving discs I08 about their vertical axes.

Also seen in Fig. 3 mounted upon each of the housings I00 is a teletorque I08, these teletorques being designated in the art as the ground speed receiving teletorques. Each of these teletorques is connected to the wires in its associated cable IIO which enters the upper open end of one of the shafts 84 and makes its exit therefrom by means of one of the holes II2 drilled in these shafts. The other end of each of these wires is connected to one of the pins designated generally by II4 which in turn is electrically connected with one of the slip rings II8. Two brush blocks each designated II8 are rigidly mounted upon frame I0 and each of the brushes I20 carried by them is in contact with one of the slip rings H8. Each of the brushes I20 is connected to a wire contained in its associated cable I22 which connects with a junction box I24, seen in Fig 2. Cable I28 goes from junction box I24 into the larger cable I28 which, as previously explained, is in a conduit I30 which runs underground to the junction box I32 upon one of the legs I2 of the trainer. From junction box I32 the electrical connection extends by means of cable I84 to the slip rings and brushes (not shown) inside the bearing housings I4 and I8. From the slip rings and brushes the electrical connection runs by means of cable I38 which connects with the 55 ground speed transmitter teletorque of the wind aforedescribed means with ground speed receiving teletorques I08 it will be understood that the speed of rotation of the output shafts I 40 of these teletorques will rotate at the same rate. By

means of the gear train designated generally by I02 the rubber tired discs I06 are rotated and, therefore, their speed of rotation is proportional to the assumed ground speed of the trainer.

From the foregoing it will be realized, there fore, that the position about its vertical axis of each of the rubber tired driving discs I04 is dependent upon the assumed direction of travel of rotation is proportional to the assumed ground speed of the trainer.

Reference is now made to Fig. 2 which shows tracks I42 and I44 which are rigidly held by brackets I 48 which in turn are rigidly aflixed to the upper cross pieces of terrain base frame 48. Positioned above the tracks I42 and I44 is terrain plate carriage I48 which has two cross pieces I51 holding in the horizontal plane the shafts l6 upon which rollers I50 are free to turn. The

roller at the upper right end of Fig. 2 is not shown. Rollers I50 ride upon tracks I42 and I44 and, therefore, it will .be realized that the terrain plate carriage I48 can travel transverse of terrain base frame 48. One of the tracks I42 from sliding longitudinally with respect to terrain base frame 48 and, therefore, always keeps the rollers I50 upon their tracks I42 and I44.

Rigidly afiixed upon the front vertical face of cross piece I51 of terrain plate carriage I48 is scale I5I and rigidly 'atllxed to track I42 is an index pointer I58. These two elements at all times indicate the position of terrain plate carrlage I48 transverse of terrain base frame 48. Also attached to the vertical face of cross piece 85 I51 are two stops I55 which engage studs I88 to prevent rollers I from going beyond the ends of track I42, and stop I58 may be depressed by means of handle I8I to facilitate the insertion or removal of plate I58 from carriage I48. A 40 similar stop and handle are at the other end of carriage I48, but they are not shown.

As also seen in Fig. 2, a plurality of guide rollers I52 are mounted by means of ball bearings for rotation in the horizontal plane along the sides 5 I54 of the terrain plate carriage I48 and, furthermore, for each of these rollers there is a companion roller I58 similarly mounted for rotation in the vertical plane. These rollers I52 and I55 engage the sides and bottom respectively of ter- 50 rain plate I58 and provide a low friction track for moving terrain plate I58 longitudinally with respect to terrain plate carriage I48.

From the preceding description it will be seen, therefore, that the terrain plate carriage I48 may move transversely of terrain base frame 48 by means of rollers I50 and tracks I42 and I44, and inasmuch as the terrain plate I58 is held by terrain plate carriage I48 the terrain plate also may be moved transversely of terrain base frame 60 48. In addition, by means of rollers I52 and I58 the terrain plate I58 may move longitudinally with respect to terrain base frame 48. Furthermore, by means of the rollers 48 and track 42 of azimuth rail 40 the terrain base frame 48 and 95 therefore the terrain plate I58 may be placed in any position of rotation.

Also seen in Fig. 2 is a housing I80 containing a source of light (not shown) and a condensing lens system, the last lens of which is designated I82. This housing I is rigidly fixed to and held by the terrain base fram and casting 80 and is positioned so that the center of its projected rays is directly in the center of bearing housings I4 and I8 and, therefore, coincident with the 7 center of rotation of the trainer. Furthermore,

this center of projected rays coincides with the center of azimuth rail 48 so that regardless of the position of terrain base frame '48 relative to azimuth rail 48 the center of the projected rays still coincides with the center of rotation of the trainer. Frame 28 and terrain screen 3| are mounted so that the center of rotation of screen 3| coincides with the center of the projected rays. The final lens of the projecting system is held inside upper rotatable bearing housing I8 and is designated I84. The positioning of this lens is shown in Fig. 1. An opening I88 having a shape corresponding to the shape of the terrain screen 3| is present in the cover I88 of the bearing housing I8. It will be understood that as the trainer rotates screen 3| and cover I 88 also rotates so that the projected rays always fall on the screen.

As seen in Fig. 2, the housings I88 which are attached to the upp r end of vertical shafts 94 are positioned adjacent terrain plate I58 so that the rubber tired driving discs I 88 may contact the under side of terrain plate I58 when the apparatus is in operable position.

Reference is now made to Figs. 2 and 3 which show an arm "8 which is rigidly affixed to a horizontal shaft I'I2 by means of set screw I'I4. Two pairs of eccentric cams I16 are rigidly afllxed upon shaft I12 and these cams engage the horizontal extensions I18 of castings I88 in which the lower end of vertical shafts I82 are held. At the upper end of each of the vertical shafts I82 is a horizontal stud I84 and upon each of these studs is mounted a roller I88 which engages the smooth upper surface of the flange I88 of each of the housings 98. The pins 99,'to which reference has been previously made, it will be seen, have their upper portions turned down and placed upon each of these pins is a compression spring I88, the lower end of which rests upon the larger lower end of the vertical pins 89. The upper end of each of these springs presses upwardly against the top of'castings 88. Lock nuts I83, previously mentioned, may be used to regulate the compression of springs I98, and it will be understood that the compressions of springs I88 normally maintain housings 98 and, therefore, discs I88 in their uppermost position but when arm I18 is turned counterclockwise cams I'I8 pull vertical shafts I82 and rollers I88 downwardly, thereby compressing springs I98 and moving housings 88 and discs I88 downwardly. This disengages driving discs I88 from the underside of terrain plate I58 so that the plate may be moved freely by hand. When handle "8 is in the position shown in Fig. 3 the discs I 88 are in their uppermost position, which is the position occupied by them when a problem is being run and it is desired that the terrain plate I 58 be moved in accordance with the assumed track and assumed ground speed of the trainer.

As seen in Fig. 2, the housings I 88 are adjacent the underside of terrain plate I58 and when arm H8 is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the rubber tired discs I88 are in contact with the lower underside of terrain plate I58. The speed of rotation of discs I88 as governed by the speed of rotation of the input shaft III of the ground speed transmitting teletorque I89 governs the rate of travel of the terrain plate I58 which is propelled by the rotation of discs I88. The direction of travel of terrain plate I58 depends upon the position of discs I88 about their vertical axes, which position, it will be recalled, depends upon the position of the input shaft 81 of the track transmitter teletorque 85. In the event discs I 88 are in a plane-parallel with the longitudinal axis of terrain base frame 88 the rotation of discs I88 will merely cause terrain plate I58 to slide back and forth on rollers I52 and I58. There will be no movement of terrain plate I58 transverse of terrain base frame 48. But in the event the discs I 85 are 90 from the previously-stated position, as they are positioned in Fig. 2, terrain plate I 58 will not be driven along rollers I52 and I58 but instead the terrain plate carriage I48 will travel along rails I42 and I44 by means of rollers I58. Lastly, in the event the planes of rotation of discs I88 are at an angle with the longitudinal and transverse axes of terrain plate I58 the terrain plate will move along terrain plate carriage I48 by means of rollers I52 and I58, and the terrain plate carriage I48 which, of course, carries terrain plate I58 will move along rails I42 and I44. It will be realized, therefore, that terrain plate I58 may be moved in any direction with respect to the housing I88. The terrain plate I58 preferably is a positive transparency in black and white of any portion of the earth's surface, and it will be realized therefore that as the plate I58 is moved over condensing lens I82 a movement of the images seen upon the screen will result, thereby simulating flight over the earth. The assumed direction of flight will depend upon the direction of movement of the terrain plate I58, and the speed of flight will depend upon the speed of the movement of terrain plate I58.

Reference is now made to Fig. 5 which shows the means employed in this nvention for accurately determining an assumed trainer heading. As seen in that figure there is attached to a portion of rotatable platform 28 a bracket 288 which holds a vertical shaft 282, the lower end of which is held by a second bracket 284 affixed to support 285 which is attached to platform 28. Mounted upon shaft 282 and aflixed thereto by set screw 288 is a stop collar 288. A compression spring 2I8 is between collar 288 and the bracket 284. A roller289 is mounted in the lower end of shaft 282, and a casting 2I2 having a detent 2 is aillxed to the right most member of base frame I8 seen in Fig. 1. Whenever roller 2 I8 is in detent 2| 4 the trainer is assumed to be on an east heading. Attached to the upper end of shaft 282 is lever 2I8 pivotally held by bracket 2I8 aflixed to platform 28. Cable 228 from fuselage 28 attaches to the right end of lever 2| 8 as seen in Fig. 5, and by means of this cable a student in the trainer may lock roller 289 in detent 2I4, and therefore, place the trainer upon a fixed assumed east heading.

The terrain mechanism shown in Fig. 2 is aligned with the screen 3| and trainer fuselage 28 in the following manner. The trainer is placed on an assumed east heading as shown in Fig. 1 and azimuth rail 48 is placed under the trainer so that the centerline of the fuselage 28 is directly above a line drawn between and 270 on the azimuth rail 48, the 90 point on the azimuth rail being under the front of fuselage 28. The terrain base frame 48 is then rotated until the pointer 58 is exactly opposite the 90 mark upon azimuth rail 48, as seen in Fig. 2. It will be understood that terrain base frame 48 and terrain plate carriage I48 then extend in the same direction as the trainer fuselage 28 and screen 3|. The two driving discs I88 are aligned so that their planes of rotation are parallel with each other and with the centerlines of the trainer fuselage 26, terrain plate I58, terrain plate carriage I48 and terrain base frame 48 As before stated, discs I06 are seen in Fig. 2 to be 90 from this position. The terrain plate I58 is then placed with its left end above right driving disc I86, as seen in Fig. 2, and the position of pointer I58 relative to scale I5l is observed. Thewind drift instrument is adjusted for an assumed zero wind. The trainer is then flown in its locked east heading until the right end of terrain plate I58 is over the left driving disc I06 seen in Fig. 2. If the mechanism is properly synchronized the pointer I58 and the scale I5I will not have changed their relative positions. A due east heading has been flown under a condition of no wind, and, therefore, the terrain plate should move directly along an east-west line. In the event that any departure from this direct east-' west travel of terrain plate I58 is shown by a reference to the pointer I58 and scale I5I the teletorque adjusting arm I9 is moved in the proper direction by removing the screw 88 which holds the end of the arm in line with the holes 88 of the azimuth rail. This adjusting process is continued until the whole length of the terrain plate travels over the lens I52 without any relative movement between pointer I53 and scale I5I when the trainer is flown on an assumed east heading.

In a plane in actual flight in the absence of wind as one looks out of the ship the ground appears to be directly approaching the plane and passing under it. To simulate this it is clear that when the trainer is flying under conditions assuming no wind the image on the screen 3| should always be directly approaching the trainer 26. Yet the preceding description stated that when the trainer is headed as shown in Fig. 1 on an assumed east heading the terrain plate moved from the rear of fuselage 26 toward the head of the fuselage. This is because in the projection system a movement of the terrain plate I58 in one direction gives a movement of the image on the screen 8| in the opposite direction. It will therefore be realized that under an assumed no wind condition the terrain plate I58 always moves in the same direction that the trainer 26 is headed. It will therefore be realized that when the trainer fuselage 26 is placed on an assumed east heading the west end of the terrain plate is foremost relative to the heading of the fuselage 26 while the east end of the plate is toward the rear of the fuselage. The north end is under the right side of the fuselage while the south end is under the left side of the fuselage. In other words the directions on the terrain plate are displaced 180 from the assumed direction of the fuselage 26. As the trainer proceeds on an assumed east heading the output of the wind drift instrument 84 rotates the input shaft I I I of ground speed transmitter teletorque I08 and, as previously explained, driving discs I86 are rotated and theaerrain plate I58 is moved from the rear to the head of the trainer and the image on screen 8| moves toward trainer 26. The navigator in the trainer by referring to his map of the terrain over which the trainer is supposed to be flying can check the path of flight. In the eventthe trainer turns to the right simulating a turning of a plane from east toward south, as explained in the above mentioned application Serial Number 406,056, the position of the input shaft of the track transmitting teletorque 85 of the wind drift instrument 84 is changed, this motion of the input shaft is transmitted to the pinions of the track receiving teletorques l8, gears I8, 88 and 82 are rotated, and driving discs I 06 are rotated about their vertical axes in the same direction as the rotation of the fuselage 26. The terrain plate I58 then travels on rollers I52 and I58 and the terrain plate carriage I48 moves along tracks I42 and I44 so that the resultant movement of the terrain plate I58 is in the same direction as the heading of the fuselage 26. As any other changes in the heading of the fuselage 26 occur, the input shaft II of the track transmitting teletorque 85 is moved by the wind drift instrument and a resultant movement of pinions 88 and the position of drive discs I86 about their vertical axes occurs, and consequently the direction of travel of terrain plate I58 is maintained correctly relative to the heading of fuselage 26.

The speed of rotation of drive discs I86, as stated above, is dependent upon the speed of rotation of the input shaft II I of the ground speed transmitting teletorque I09, and is determined by the wind drift instrument 84.

It may therefore be concluded that my invention provides means whereby the image of the terrain as seen upon the screen 3|, in the absence of an assumed wind, moves directly toward the trainer, thereby simulating the apparent movement of the terrain directly toward a plane as the plane flies ahead in the absence of any wind.

In the event a plane is flying with a wind at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the ship the ground does not appear to pass parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plane but rather comes toward the plane at an angle, the size of the angle depending upon the direction of the wind and velocity thereof. As disclosed in detail in the above mentioned copending application Serial Number 406,056, the wind drift instrument 84 comprises means whereby this instrument may be set in accordance with the assumed direction and velocity of the wind, and the position of the input shaft 81 of the track transmitting teletorque is changed accordingly. It will be realized therefore that when an assumed wind has been introduced into the wind drift instrument 84 the position of driving discs I06 about their vertical axes will be displaced from the positions they occupy when there is no assumed wind by the amount determined by the wind drift instrument 84. The direction of travel of terrain plate I58 relative to the trainer 26 and therefore the direction of travel of the image on screen 3| relative to the trainer will be varied by introducing into the wind drift instrument assumed wind conditions. For example, let us assume the mechanism has been adjusted for a due east heading of the trainer under conditions of no wind. Flight of the trainer due east will cause the terrain plate to move directly ahead of the fuselage 26 and the image on the screen 3| will move directly toward the trainer fuselage 26. But if the wind drift instrument 84 is set assuming a wind from North at a given velocity, driving discs I06 will be rotated clockwise a certain amount as seen from above in Fig. 2, and instead of terrain plate I58 moving directly from the rear of the fuselage 26 toward its head it will also have a movement from under the left of the fuselage to the right. The image on screen 3I will then approach the trainer and move to the left, just as when a plane is flying due east in a wind from North the ground appears to approach the plane and slide off to the left. In a similar manner, as disclosed in the copending application Serial Number 406,056, an assumed wind from any direction and of any velocity may be. introduced in the wind drift instrument 84, and driving discs I08 will be displaced from the position they would occupy if there were no wind by an amount and in a direction dependent upon the assumed direction and velocity of the wind, and the movement of terrain plate I58 is modified so that the travel of the images upon screen 8| is modified to simulate the effects of corresponding winds upon a plane in actual flight.

It may therefore be concluded that my invention also provides means for causing the image of the terrain on the screen 3| to move with respect to the trainer flying under assumed wind conditions in the same manner that the cart moves relative to a plane flying in a wind.

Let us assume that azimuth rail 40 were not provided but that, instead, terrain base frame 48 were fixedly mounted upon the ground or floor. The direction of the longitudinal axis of the terrain base frame 48 relative to the assumed east heading of the trainer would be fixed. In the event that the longitudinal axis of the frame 48 were parallel to the longitudinal axis of the trainer 26 when it is on an assumed east heading, the terrain plate I58 would always have to simulate a strip of land laying directly east-west because in setting up a problem" it is necessary that the assumed direction of the trainer and the direction of the terrain plate agree. It would be impossible to pick out any strip of land upon the earth's surface regardless of its direction from which to make a terrain plate if terrain base frame 48 were fixed. But with the azimuth rail 48 it is possible to copy any strip of terrain for depiction on the terrain plate I58, and, when the trainer is on an assumed east heading the terrain base frame 48 is merely rotated so that the east-west line on the terrain plate is parallel to the east-west line of the trainer 26, the western end of the terrain plate corresponding to the eastern end of the fuselage. By knowing the number of degrees that East on the terrain plate I58 is displaced from the longitudinal axis of the plate, by use of pointer 56 and the scale on the azimuth rail 40 the terrain base frame 48 may be easily correctly placed.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that my present invention comprises many improvements over my copending application Serial Number 250,958 and that the stated and other objects of my invention have been satisfied. The foregoing being but a preferred embodiment of my invention, I limit myself only by the following claims.

1. In a grounded navigation training system the combination of a support for a student rot-atably mounted upon a stationary base, a screen afiixed to said support, for rotation therewith, and a projection system for projecting images upon said screen, the axes of rotation of said support and said screen being coincident with the center of the rays projected by said projection system. I

2. In a grounded navigation training system the combination of a support for a student rotatably mounted upon a stationary base, a screen afflxed to said support for rotation therewith, a projection system for projecting images upon said screen, said projection system comprising an image bearing member, and a rotatably mounted frame for holding said image bearing member.

3. In a grounded navigation training system the combination of a support for a stud nt, a

projection screen visible from said support, a projection system for projecting images onto said screen, said projection system comprising a source of light and an image bearing member, a frame for holding said image bearing member, a graduated rail for holding said frame, said frame being rotatable with respect to said graduated rail, and index means associated with said rotatable frame for cooperation with said graduated rail.

4. In a grounded navigation training system the combination of a support for a student rotatably mounted upon a stationary base, a projection screen visible from said support, a projection system for projecting images upon said screen, said projection system comprising an image bearing member, and a rotatably mounted frame for holding said image bearing member.

5. In a grounded navigation training system the combination of a support for a student, a projection screen visible from said support, a projection system for projecting images upon said screen, said projection system comprising a horizontally disposed image bearing member movable in any direction in the horizontal plane, a circular member, a frame for holding said image bearing member rotatably mounted with respect to said circular member, and index means for indicating the rotatable position of said frame with respect to said circular member.

6. In a grounded navigation training system the combination of a support for a student, a projection screen visible from said support, a projection system for projecting images upon said 85 screen, said projecting system comprising an image bearing member movable in any direction in a horizontal plane, and a rotatably mounted frame for holding said image bearing member.

7. In a grounded navigation training system Qthe combination of a stationary base afllxed to a lower bearing housing, an upper bearing housing rotatably mounted with respect to said lower bearing housing, a support for a student affixed to said upper bearing housing for rotation therewith, a screen visible from said support and positioned above said bearing housings for receiving projected images, and a. projection system for projecting images upon said screen, a portion of said projecting system being positioned below said bearing housings to project its rays through the center of said bearing housings.

8. In a grounded navigation training system the combination of a support for a student rotatably mounted upon a stationary base; a screen visible from said support for receiving projected images; a projection system for projecting images upon said screen, said projection system comprising a member bearing images in simulation of a portion of the earths surface; means comprising a member rotatable with said support and arranged for coaction with a fixed member for ascertaining the assumed heading of said support; and means for relatively positioning said support and said image bearing member whereby the images projected upon said screen may be caused to bear the same relation relative to said trainer as the terrain simulated :by said images would bear to: a plane actually flying over the terrain a heading corresponding to the assumed heading of said trainer.

9. In a grounded navigation training system the combination of a support for a student rotatably mounted upon a stationary base; a screen visible from said support for receiving projected images; a projection system for projecting images upon said screen, said projection system comprising a member bearing images in simulation of a portion of the earths surface; a frame for holding said image bearing member and a graduated rail, said frame being rotatable with respect to said graduated rail; means for ascertaining the assumed heading of said support; and means for rotating said frame and image bearing member with respect to said graduated rail whereby the images projected upon said screen may be caused to bear the same relation relative to said trainer as the terrain simulated by said images would hear to .a plane actually flying over the terrain a heading corresponding to the assumed heading of said trainer.

10. In a grounded navigation training system the combination of a screen for receiving projected images; a projection system for projecting images upon said screen, said projection system comprising an image bearing member mounted for movement in anydirection in a horizontal plane; a friction disc abutting the lower side of said image bearing member for moving the same; a first means for moving said friction disc about its vertical axis; and additional manually controlled means for moving said friction disc about its vertical axis.

11. In a grounded navigation training system the combination of a screen for receiving projected images; a projection system for projecting images upon said screen, said projection system comprising an image bearing member mounted for movement in any direction in a horizontal plane; a plurality of friction discs abutting the lower side of said image bearing member for moving the same; a first means for simultaneous- 1y moving said friction discs about their vertical axes; and additional manually controlled means for simultaneously moving said friction discs about their vertical axes.

12. In a grounded navigation training system the combination of a support for a student; a screen visible from said support for receiving pro-- jected images; a projection system for projecting images upon said screen, said projection system comprising an image bearing member; a friction disc normally abutting the lower side of said image bearing member for moving the same; and a manually controllable element for moving said friction disc out of engagement with said image bearing member.

13. In a grounded navigation training system the combination of a support for a student; a screen visible from said support for receiving projected images; a projection system for projecting images upon said screen, said projection system comprising an image bearing member; a plurality of friction discs normally abutting the lower side of said image bearing member for moving the same; and a manually controllable element for moving said friction discs out of engagement with said image bearing member.

14. In a grounded navigation training system the combination of a projection screen, a member bearing an image representing a portion of the earths surface, means for projecting the image of said image bearing member on said screen, a graduated member, a frame for holding said image bearing member, said frame being rotatable with respect to said graduated member, index means on said frame arranged to cooperate with said graduated member, and means for moving said image bearing membef with respect to said projecting means in a plane at right angles to the axis of rotation of said frame.

15. In a grounded navigation training system the combination of a projection screen, a member bearing an'image representing a portion of the earths surface, means for projecting the image of said image bearing member on said screen, a circular rail, a frame for holding said image bearing member rotatably mounted upon said rail, index means for indicating the rotatable position of said frame with respect to said rail, and means for moving said image bearing member with respect to said projecting means in a plane at'right angles to the axis of rotation of said frame. l

16. In a grounded navigation training system the combination of a stationary base, a. tower rotatably mounted above said stationary base, a support for a student mounted upon the top of said tower to rotate therewith, a screen attached to said tower near the top thereof, and a projection system for projecting images upon said screen, the axes of rotation of said support and screen being coincident with the center of the rays projected by said projection system.

EDWIN A. LINK. 

